BLACK MOUNT BUGLE

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Sometimes it's easier to respond to bad things that happen rather than make good things happen.

I'm always pleased when we can help fix things through the Community Council and I hope we can continue to be useful and helpful when things go wrong. But I also hope we are able to get our act together to initiate a difference to the place we live in. This can happen by helping us convey this community's views and priorities to the powers that be.

It can also happen by sharing ideas for how we would use any pockets of funding that may become available.

To do this the Community Council need to know what you would like to see happen. I can't guarantee it will come to pass. But I do know that we are not the best people to make these decisions - you are.

So imagine we had £100, £1000, or £10,000 - how would you spend this for the benefit of our community?

Answers on a postcard please . . . or better still, come along to the next Community Council meeting where your views and ideas will be very welcome

Sam Cassels

BMCC MEETINGS

Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, except Public Holidays.

Dates and venues are posted outside Dolphinton, Elsrickle and Newbigging Village Halls

Black Mount Community Council Membership List (March 2012)

Chairman:
Sam Cassels (elected)
Kirkhouse Farm, Dolphinton, EH46 7AB
01968 682674, 07710778642 chairman@blackmount.org

Vice-Chairman:
Denis Critchley-Salmonson (elected)
Glebe House, Dunsyre, ML11 8NQ
01899 810310

Secretary:
Barry Rosindale (co-opted)
Meldons, Elsrickle, Biggar, ML12 6QZ
01899 810207 secretary@blackmount.org

Treasurer:
Charles Ritchie (elected)
The Grange, Dolphinton, EH46 7HH
01968 682639 treasurer@blackmount.org

Councillor:
Hamish Stewart
07748 114 582 hamish.stewart@southlanarkshire.gov.uk

Alex Pagett (elected)
Auchengillan
Peggie’s Knowe
Dolphinton, EH46 7AL
01968 682358

Laura Munro (nominated by Dolphinton WRI)
Carmaben Brae,
Dolphinton, EH46 7HH
01968 682312

David Darling (nominated by Black Mount Community Website)
Poets Place, Loanend, Dolphinton, EH46 7HQ
01968 682387 webadmin@blackmount.org

Alison Morton-Nicholls (associate)
Manse View,
Dolphinton, EH46 7HH
01968 682676

St Isadore's Roman Catholic Church, Biggar
Holy Mass Sundays 12 noon
Weekdays (Mon, Tues-Thurs, Fri) 9.30 am

St Mungo's Scottish Episcopal Church, West Linton
Sung Communion Sundays 10.00 am
Said Communion Wednesdays 10.30 am

COUNCILLOR HAMISH STEWART

I am in the somewhat odd position at the time of writing this article of not knowing whether I will still be one of the Councillors for Clydesdale East by the time you read it. Hopefully though I will still be in office and therefore this will not be my last article!

Since the last Bugle was published the Overburns quarry planning application has been decided at committee. The application was unanimously rejected but there is a right of appeal to the Scottish Government. As I write this there has not yet been an appeal lodged but there is still time. Had the application been granted there would have been a marked increase in HGV traffic on the A702, affecting Dolphinton in particular.
The appeal into the windfarm application for Harelaw is due to be heard as I write. I sincerely hope that the Government’s reporter upholds the decision taken by the planning committee. I believe that the slopes of the Pentlands are not appropriate for wind farm developments.

So far as the Council is concerned the first half of May will be taken up forming a new administration of whatever hue. My own belief is that there will be another hung council with the Conservatives holding the balance of power. That system worked excellently for the rural area in the last Council so I am hoping that my belief is correct.

Walston school pupil Robbie Orr performed excellently at the recent South Lanarkshire County cross country finals in Hamilton in spite of being unwell on the day, so well done to him. Walston has a fine tradition of producing good athletes.
I had the pleasure of presenting the awards at the event as I had done a few days previously at the Lanarkshire Schools rugby finals, also in Hamilton, convincingly won by Biggar High after an outstanding display of running and passing rugby. It has been one of my pleasures over the past 5 years as Chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture to have the chance to attend such events.
I will not be carrying out my surgeries in June because of the Jubilee holiday and am not allowed to conduct surgeries during the school holidays in July and August, so I am afraid that it will be September before my next surgery but I hope to attend the regular Community Council meetings during that time. As always I can be contacted at Hamish.stewart@southlanarkshire.gov.uk or on 07748114582 to deal with any Council issues. I will be abroad for a few weeks and not contactable but will usually be available during the summer.

I will close by wishing all of you a great summer, it must surely be better than last year’s and thanking everyone for their support over the past 5 years.

Hamish Stewart

DOLPHINTON WRI

The March meeting took the form of a members’ night and preparation for the Community Effort at Peebles on the following Saturday. At this event we gained second place and Anne Hutchison received prizes for her bulbs.

The Carpet Bowling Team travelled to Castle Douglas on the 10th of the month and had a very enjoyable day – but did not make the final.

The April meeting was our AGM and we had a most enjoyable evening with Ryan MacDonald from West Linton. He was talking about Antiques.

The Silver Salver for most points for the session was awarded to Jean Cambbell.

Jean Campbell

BLACK MOUNT SPORTS NIGHT

Hi Everyone
The final confirmed date for the Sports Night is:

Thursday 31st May
at Newbigging Playing Field at 6.30pm

Any volunteers for holding the tape, handing out place tickets or helping with equipment will be very welcome on the night.
Let’s hope for a dry, warm night this year – you all deserve it!

**Jubilee medals will be awarded to all participants**.

Mara Orr

Black Mount Parish Church, Dolphinton
Sunday Service 12 noon (until end June)

Sunday 1st July is the three monthly joint service at Libberton and Quothquan Parish Church.
There will be no service at Black Mount Church

From 8th July worship will be at 9.30am in Black Mount Church (until end of September)

Black Mount Church Holiday Club
There will be a Holiday Club in Black Mount Church Hall on Thursday 9th August from 2-4pm for children aged 5-12 years.

Hazel Knight

WALSTON PRE- 5 GROUP
Wednesdays
9.15am until 11.30am

Walston Pre 5 Group offers the opportunity for children from the Blackmount Community to play together on a weekly basis before attending school.

The Pre 5 Group helps the children develop their social and learning skills through free play and creative art work, such as: dressing up, painting, play dough, reading, singing and musical games, as well as playing outside with balls and games, all in a safe environment.

We meet at Walston Primary School on a Wednesday morning, for children from 2½ years up to school age, and children do not need to be toilet trained to attend.

Each session runs from 9.15am until 11.30am. We would welcome children of this age to come and join our group. If you would like to register your child please telephone Leah Girdwood (Playgroup Leader), Hannah Cairns or Carrie Allison at the numbers below or call in on a Wednesday morning.

If you’d like to contact the playgroup, please call

Leah Girdwood Tel: 0797473255

Carrie Allison Tel: 07725170123

Hannah Cairns Tel: 07980681978

ELSRICKLE WRI

Alice Barrie welcomed members to the last meeting of the session. Heather Watt gave the ladies tips on how to plant spring bulbs. This was followed by the AGM and the election of Office bearers for the next year.

These are as follows: President – Alice Barrie
Vice President – Grace Allison
Secretary – Ann Moffat
Treasurer – Ann Barrie
Press Secretary – Norma Love

The winner of the George Wallace Salver for a bowl of bulbs was Harriet Tolson. Margaret Leiper won the Border tart which will now go on to the Federation in April.

Prize-winners for the year were:
Trophy for most points – Joan Stephenson
Mrs Howieson Trophy for most 1st Prizes – Ann Barrie
Jessie Grossart Memorial Trophy for most entries through the year
– Irene Lancaster

Elsrickle Rural had some success at the Lanarkshire Federation Show held in March. They were the winners of the Silver Salver and runners-up in the Auldhouse Trophy. They also picked up the Mackay Trophy for most points in the Handcraft Section and the individual prize for most points in this section was Phyllis Tweedie.

Pam Hart

Last Date for Contributions to the next Bugle is July 5th 2012
Please send your articles, dates, reports, news and advertisements to:
Norma Love : Tel: 01899 810285 email bugle@blackmount.org

The Bugle is published by the Black Mount Community Council, but viewsexpressed therein are not necessarily those of the committee.

The Community Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors printed in the Bugle.